If you have a paper shredder at home, you know that emptying your bin ensures that your shredder doesn’t overheat. However, those paper particles have more uses than just going straight to the trash. Shredded paper has many uses that can save you money, so don’t empty out your paper shredder container just yet. Learn some creative ways to reuse and recycle shredded paper at home.
Use Paper As Packing Material
Do you need to ship or store something but don’t have any excess packing material lying around the house? Simply turn to your home’s paper shredder. You can use shredded paper to cushion fragile items such as utensils, snow globes, trophies, and more. Paper shreds offer more volume and protection than tissue paper or newspaper for storing and shipping your fragile items. Shredded paper can come in handy, especially when moving, so hang onto your shredded paper for yourself or a friend in need of packing materials.
Place Shreds in Compost
If you have a backyard composting pile or local compost collection, don’t toss your shredded paper. Paper materials make a suitable brown waste layer for compost piles. Plus, this type of paper is easier to break down because it’s already shredded into smaller particles. This is one of the benefits of cross-cut shredders, which shred paper into fine pieces.
You can even add shredded paper to your mulch pile when it comes time to mulch around your lawn again. Paper adds volume and richness to the mulch and soil surrounding your trees and plants.
Make a note to avoid adding glossy paper such as photos to your mulch or compost pile. This type of paper doesn’t break down easily.
Try Making Your Own Paper
If you’re feeling creative, why not try making your own paper out of the small scraps from your shredder? There are plenty of paper-crafting kits and tutorials to help you through each stage of the paper-making process. Handmade paper has a unique texture and thickness that manufactured paper doesn’t reach. If you’re looking for unique scrapbooking paper or even papier-mâché, try creating your own with shredded paper scraps.
Save It for Kindling
Summer is here, which means it’s time for bonfire season. If your family or neighbors love having summer campfires, try saving your paper scraps for kindling. You can even craft on-the-go fire starter kits with kindling like toilet paper tubes, small twigs, and shredded paper. These bits and bobs from around the house and yard can help you start a roaring fire in no time.
If you have excess paper shredding scraps at home or in the office, don’t waste them by throwing them in the trash or recycling. Try these creative ways to reuse and recycle shredded paper the next time you’re about to empty your paper shredder’s bin.
The Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered unforgettable performances,
historic milestones, and moments that reminded the world why sport matters.
Now, the 2026 Winter Paralympics will carry that spirit forward, showcasing courage, precision, and the power of human determination.
As attention turns toward the
2030 Winter Games in the French Alps , the legacy of 2026 is already shaping a bold and inclusive future for winter sports.
Every Corvette owner eventually asks the same thing: Do modifications hurt or help classic Corvette value? It is a fair question. You want to enjoy the car, maybe upgrade performance or comfort, but you also want to protect what it is worth.
Improving your gas mileage does not require drastic changes or expensive upgrades. With the right habits and consistent maintenance, you can lower fuel costs and extend the life of your car. Understanding practical ways to improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency helps you take control of everyday driving decisions that directly affect how much you spend at the pump.
Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday sit side by side on the calendar, but they feel very different.
One is full of color, music, and celebration. The other is quiet, simple, and reflective.
Together, they form a powerful transition from feasting to fasting, from Carnival to Lent.
Pickup trucks serve as dependable partners for work, travel, and demanding tasks that require strength and versatility. Owners rely on their trucks to transport equipment, supplies, and recreational gear across job sites, highways, and rugged terrain with confidence and control. Yet even the most capable truck can benefit from well-chosen accessories that expand hauling capacity and improve daily utility.
